How Klopp intervened on Liverpool man’s loan to Stuttgart

Nathaniel Phillips TEAMtalk

Nathaniel Phillips says that Jurgen Klopp personally intervened to organise the defender’s loan move this summer.

Phillips, 22, has completed a season-long loan move to Bundesliga 2 side Stuttgart and the centre-back has already made two appearances, including a start in the recent goalless draw with Erzgebirge Aue.

But the Bolton-born defender’s move to Germany was only sorted out after Klopp called Stuttgart sporting director Sven Mislintat.

Phillips says that Klopp was not happy with the loan options that were on the table for the Liverpool man, so he intervened and the player signed for Stuttgart.

“I told Jurgen Klopp about a few offers I had, Stuttgart was not one of them at that time” Phillips told Bild.

“Jurgen was not enthusiastic about the options and I think he called Sven Mislintat shortly after our meeting.”

The transfer was soon concluded at the start of August with Phillips  saying: “I’m delighted to be here. VfB is a club steeped in tradition and I want to play a part in making sure that we make it back into the Bundesliga.”

Phillips, who is under contract until next summer, also received a text from Klopp once the deal had gone through.

“Klopp congratulated me on this move and he immediately wrote me a message on his phone: ‘Good club, great city, my birthplace, I wish you a great time.”